~ Broke, Female and Ready to Travel!

Category Archives: Los Angeles

A decision to enjoy a picnic in the park ended up including an unexpected surprise: Polo!

I’ll admit that I’ve never seen polo played live prior to Saturday. I still couldn’t swear to what the rules actually are, but enjoyed trying to figure it out. There are definitely worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than munching on cheese and bread while watching polo under a clear SoCal sky. And it was all free!

The matches are played up at Will Rogers State Historic Park. If you don’t want to hike up to the park, you can pay to park on the grounds right by the polo fields for $12. I highly recommend checking it out.

The first is a new-ish restaurant called Franco on Melrose. The chef and owner, Franco DeDominicis was the Executive Chef at the Biltmore Hotel. The main eating area is entirely outside in a beautiful courtyard. I hesitated to go in for lunch because I’m on a tight budget, but I thought I’d give it a whirl anyway (plus, I love Italian food). I had the penne arrabiata, and not only was it delicious, but the small portion (which is more than enough for me) was less than $10. That’s less than I was spending some days at the more fast-food places in the neighborhood (and far better for me). Plus, there’s just something about the ambiance that I really liked. I’ve actually been back a couple of times since, and everything I’ve had has been good.

There are a couple of caveats. First, they don’t have their liquor license yet. The keyword there is “yet.” But that’s coming, and they do allow you to bring your own wine in for a very, very small corkage fee. The second is because it is an outdoor dining area, extremely hot weather could be a problem. Honestly, I was there on two days where it was in the high 80s and had no problem (there are fans). But if you are delicate, you might want to wait until it’s under 80. There is stylized draped roofing, so you are protected if it rains.

Don’t let either of these things stop you. The food is good. It’s entirely reasonable in terms of cost and everyone there is extremely nice and helpful. Go!

Stir Crazy Coffee House
6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles

This is a new discovery to me, but it’s pretty obvious that the locals love it. I heard the coffee is amazing, but I’m not a coffee drinker, so I couldn’t swear to it. I can tell you that they have some amazing breakfast goodies and lunch-time sandwiches that have me visiting frequently.

But even more than the food, the place is a hideaway on a busy street that you would not expect. The first time I went in there I was struck not by the locally-sourced art hangings, the rustic decor or the music (I believe Sinatra was playing that day), but how cozy the place felt. And it isn’t manufactured cozy; it just is. And it’s a great place to work. Don’t take my word for it, take a look around. Anytime you walk into the place the tables are loaded with people on their laptops working on the great American novel or screenplay. It’s quiet, inspiring and feels like a welcoming creative community is just inside those doors.

People often complain about not feeling connected to a community when they live in Los Angeles. There are neighborhoods, but the claim is that there is rarely a mixing of cultures. While I can see that point, I think I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy what the city has to offer regardless of where my home base has been. It might take more effort than in some cities, but there are real opportunities out there to enjoy the cultural benefits of the city.

The Broad Stage in Santa Monica was offering one of these experiences this weekend. As a way of introducing the community to their upcoming music, dance and theater programs, The Broad Stage held Broad Fest, a free celebration of the arts. There were food trucks and performing groups in both the outside courtyard and the Edye (the smaller stage space).

It was a beautiful day, and my friend and I opted to stay outside and enjoy the performances of La Santa Cecilia, the Crossroads School Jazz Ensemble and the Santa Monica College Emeritus Gospel Community Chorus. I loved the energy of each of the groups I saw, and I must admit that I’d like to join that Gospel chorus. Is there anything more elevating than talented people sharing what they love?

The crowds were lively and joined in the spirit of the event—young and not so young patrons danced along with the musicians. It was an easy, free way to appreciate something that we all had in common (regardless of age, race or gender).

I caught a showing of To Rome with a friend last night, and while we were talking on the street after the film, I was taken with the way the palm trees and street lamps mirrored one another. Alas, I couldn’t quite get it right– I needed a ladder to avoid the glare and get the framing right. Still, Wilshire at dusk captured my attention.

I know that many people hesitate to travel even when they have good flight/hotel/activities deals. The key reason now: gas. Gas prices are keeping people from traveling even two hours from home. I get that, particularly since I often travel alone, and shoulder the entire cost.

With that in mind, as well as a general desire to enjoy Los Angeles, I started doing a series of low cost or free events in Los Angeles over the summer. Outdoor concerts are big here. Most of the museums do them—though the style of the music changes; your biggest cost is parking. Alas, even we have to face the facts of winter (and by winter, I mean anything less than 70 degrees that could conceivably involve some sort of mist). We add scarves and the occasional sweater to our flip-flopped ensemble, and look for indoor fun.

While Saturdays Off the 405 goes away for a couple of months, Gordon Getty Concerts are around in November, February and March. These are more formal concert going events held at festival prices ($20 for general and $15 for students/seniors). Keep in mind that since the concerts don’t start until 7pm, you get the benefit of the free after 5pm parking rules at The Getty.

Sunday evening at LACMA

Sundays Live at LACMA is still a great option no matter the season. Sundays Live is a weekly classical chamber music concert at the Bing Theater of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is “the longest-running live music broadcast in Los Angeles,” according to their website (it started in 1948). It’s also Free! Free! Free! Did I mention it is free? Also they have a film series that I’m dying to try.

If you dig quality 99 seat theater experiences, but loathe the idea of parking in Hollywood, try the projects going up at Edgemar. They always have something interesting going on and the top level price for the main stage show is usually around $35. For instance, you can go right now and see Anne Archer in Jane Fonda in the Court of Public Opinion, or check out the very well-reviewed Sylvia in the smaller theater.

Slightly more expensive, but still on the west side, is the Broad Stage. I’m heading over to see A Comedy of Errors there this weekend and Jane Austen Unscripted in December. My previous visits to The Broad have all involved dance programs (saw Baryshnikov there not long ago and swooned—yes, still!), so I’m excited to check out the theatrical productions there in both the main stage and the smaller, experimental theater.

There is so much going on here all the time. It’s hard to figure out what to do first! What are some of your favorite low cost/free things to do in the city?

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